13 May 2009 - Paris - Human Rights Council elections - Communiqué issued by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs

France welcomes yesterday’s election of several countries to the United Nations Human Rights Council, particularly the United States, since this reflects a new orientation in US human rights policy. We had repeatedly urged the United States to return to the Council. Today this has happened and we salute this return.

We also welcome the election of several Francophone African countries - Cameroon, Djibouti, Mauritius and Senegal - who are thus expressing their commitment to promoting human rights.

France expresses the hope that its new configuration will allow the Human Rights Council to build on its achievements with a view to more efficiently promoting and protecting human rights, which are indivisible and universal./.